Loss of height predicts fall risk in elderly Japanese: a prospective cohort study

The purpose of this study was to explore whether height loss is associated with future falls and whether the combination of height loss and fall experience is associated with future falls.

In this prospective observational study, a total of 765 individuals (354 men, 411 women) agreed to join the study. Baseline data on demographics, comorbidities, physical performance, and previous falls were assessed. Height loss was calculated as the difference between the self-reported height at a younger age and the current height and was divided into two groups: < 2 cm and ≥ 2 cm. Approximately 15 months after the baseline evaluation, follow-up questionnaires were used to assess the fall history. Participants were classified as either "non-fallers" or "fallers." Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between falls and each factor and to obtain adjusted odds ratio estimates.

The follow-up questionnaire was returned by 668 participants, 74 of whom (11.1%) fell at least once during the observation period. Multiple logistic regression analysis found that height loss of > 2 cm was a significant predictor of future falls, even after adjusting for other factors. Additionally, the combination of height loss and previous falls was a risk factor for falls.

We suggest that height loss of ≥ 2 cm is a predictor of future falls in older adults, and the combination of height loss and fall experiences may be a useful screening tool for determining fall risk.